Play the Game 2009 Press Launch: Could match-fixing ruin the beautiful game?

Declan Hill is a Canadian investigative journalist and an Oxford University academic whose area of study and investigation centres around match-fixing. Dr Hill is also author of the book The Fix, an international best-selling book examining the world of match-fixing and corruption in professional sport.

The Play the Game conference will be held in UK for the first time at Coventry University on 8-12 June 2009. Journalists attending the press launch in London will hear more about Hill’s research, get an overview of the provisional conference programme and hear more about the work of Play the Game from Board chairman Jens Brinch. The press launch will be chaired by Professor Simon Chadwick of Coventry University’s Centre for the International Business of Sport, who will also be giving a presentation about the conference.

“This launch event will raise awareness about the conference in June and highlight the opportunity for organisations to contribute to the success of the conference in Coventry and be part of some of the most topical debates in professional sport,” said Professor Simon Chadwick. “Being the first UK city to host such a prestigious international conference is indicative of the University’s international expertise in relation to sport management and business.”

Meanwhile, the day beforehand in Copenhagen, Hill will speak at a seminar entitled Corruption in Sport, taking place at the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at Copenhagen University. The event will examine the social and economic consequences of corruption in sport, why football is involved in so many match-fixing and corruption cases and what goes on behind the scenes in Danish and International football clubs.

Also speaking at the event will be Henrik Brandt, Director of the Danish Institute for Sports Studies, and Morten Mølholm Hansen, Head of Communications at the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark. Entry is free, though spaces are limited. Proceedings will take place in English.

- For more information about Play the Game 2009, visit the conference homepage

Operational notes

London

• The Play the Game 2009 press launch is taking place at the Embassy of Denmark, 55 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SR at 14.00 – 16.00 on Thursday 5 February.
• Journalists wishing to attend the launch event must RSVP in advance to: Becci Cussens, becci@communicationsmanagement.co.uk; 01727 737980, to ensure entry to the event.
• Journalists attending the event are asked to bring some form of photographic identification as part of the Danish Embassy’s security procedures.

Copenhagen

• The seminar takes place at the Department of Exercise and Sport Studies at Copenhagen University in the Main Auditorium, on Nørre Allé 53, DK-2200 København N (Institut for Idræt, Store Auditorium, Nørre Allé 53, DK-2200 København N).
• Attendance is free and advance registration is not necessary, though places are limited.
• The debate will take place in English.
• For more information, please contact Christine Jøker Nissen of Transparency International Denmark at cjnissen@transparency.dk